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Thiagavel J, Cechetto C, Santana SE, Jakobsen L, Warrant EJ, Ratcliffe JM. Auditory opportunity and visual constraint enabled the evolution of echolocation in bats. Nat Commun 2018; 9:98. [PMID: 29311648 PMCID: PMC5758785 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-017-02532-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2017] [Accepted: 12/07/2017] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Substantial evidence now supports the hypothesis that the common ancestor of bats was nocturnal and capable of both powered flight and laryngeal echolocation. This scenario entails a parallel sensory and biomechanical transition from a nonvolant, vision-reliant mammal to one capable of sonar and flight. Here we consider anatomical constraints and opportunities that led to a sonar rather than vision-based solution. We show that bats' common ancestor had eyes too small to allow for successful aerial hawking of flying insects at night, but an auditory brain design sufficient to afford echolocation. Further, we find that among extant predatory bats (all of which use laryngeal echolocation), those with putatively less sophisticated biosonar have relatively larger eyes than do more sophisticated echolocators. We contend that signs of ancient trade-offs between vision and echolocation persist today, and that non-echolocating, phytophagous pteropodid bats may retain some of the necessary foundations for biosonar.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeneni Thiagavel
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, 25 Willcocks Street, Toronto, ON, M5S 3B2, Canada
| | - Clément Cechetto
- Department of Biology, University of Southern Denmark, Campusvej 55, 5230, Odense C, Denmark
| | - Sharlene E Santana
- Department of Biology and Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA
| | - Lasse Jakobsen
- Department of Biology, University of Southern Denmark, Campusvej 55, 5230, Odense C, Denmark
| | - Eric J Warrant
- Department of Biology, Lund University, Sölvegatan 35, 22362, Lund, Sweden
| | - John M Ratcliffe
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, 25 Willcocks Street, Toronto, ON, M5S 3B2, Canada. .,Department of Biology, University of Southern Denmark, Campusvej 55, 5230, Odense C, Denmark. .,Department of Biology, University of Toronto Mississauga, 3359 Mississauga Road, Mississauga, ON, L5L 1C6, Canada. .,Department of Natural History, Royal Ontario Museum, 100 Queens Park, Toronto, ON, M5S 2C6, Canada.
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Teeling EC, Jones G, Rossiter SJ. Phylogeny, Genes, and Hearing: Implications for the Evolution of Echolocation in Bats. BAT BIOACOUSTICS 2016. [DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-3527-7_2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
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The sound of one hand clapping: overdetermination and the pansensory nature of communication. Behav Brain Sci 2014; 37:546-7; discussion 577-604. [PMID: 25514936 DOI: 10.1017/s0140525x13003944] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Two substantive issues are relevant to discussions of the evolution of acoustic communication and merit further consideration here. The first is the importance of communicative ontogeny and the impact of the proximal social environment on the early development of communication and language. The second is the emerging evidence for a number of non-linguistic roles of FOXP2 and its orthologs.
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Carter RT, Adams RA. Ontogeny of the Larynx and Flight Ability in Jamaican Fruit Bats (Phyllostomidae) With Considerations for the Evolution of Echolocation. Anat Rec (Hoboken) 2014; 297:1270-7. [DOI: 10.1002/ar.22934] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2013] [Accepted: 03/17/2014] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Rick A. Adams
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Northern Colorado; 501 20th Street Greeley Colorado
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Carter RT, Shaw JB, Adams RA. Ontogeny of vocalization in Jamaican fruit bats with implications for the evolution of echolocation. J Zool (1987) 2014. [DOI: 10.1111/jzo.12097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - J. B. Shaw
- The University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma; Chickasha OK USA
| | - R. A. Adams
- University of Northern Colorado; Greeley CO USA
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Behavioural and neurobiological implications of linear and non-linear features in larynx phonations of horseshoe bats. Nat Commun 2013; 3:1184. [PMID: 23149729 PMCID: PMC3552533 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms2165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2012] [Accepted: 09/25/2012] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Mammalian vocalizations exhibit large variations in their spectrotemporal features, although it is still largely unknown which result from intrinsic biomechanical properties of the larynx and which are under direct neuromuscular control. Here we show that mere changes in laryngeal air flow yield several non-linear effects on sound production, in an isolated larynx preparation from horseshoe bats. Most notably, there are sudden jumps between two frequency bands used for either echolocation or communication in natural vocalizations. These jumps resemble changes in “registers” as in yodelling. In contrast, simulated contractions of the main larynx muscle produce linear frequency changes, but are limited to echolocation or communication frequencies. Only by combining non-linear and linear properties can this larynx therefore produce sounds covering the entire frequency range of natural calls. This may give behavioural meaning to yodelling-like vocal behaviour and reshape our thinking about how the brain controls the multitude of spectral vocal features in mammals.
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Elemans CPH, Mead AF, Jakobsen L, Ratcliffe JM. Superfast muscles set maximum call rate in echolocating bats. Science 2011; 333:1885-8. [PMID: 21960635 DOI: 10.1126/science.1207309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
As an echolocating bat closes in on a flying insect, it increases call emission to rates beyond 160 calls per second. This high call rate phase, dubbed the terminal buzz, has proven enigmatic because it is unknown how bats are able to produce calls so quickly. We found that previously unknown and highly specialized superfast muscles power rapid call rates in the terminal buzz. Additionally, we show that laryngeal motor performance, not overlap between call production and the arrival of echoes at the bat's ears, limits maximum call rate. Superfast muscles are rare in vertebrates and always associated with extraordinary motor demands on acoustic communication. We propose that the advantages of rapid auditory updates on prey movement selected for superfast laryngeal muscle in echolocating bats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Coen P H Elemans
- Institute of Biology, University of Southern Denmark, DK-5230 Odense M, Denmark.
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